Reshaping the landscape of the Chinese entertainment industry

The library of the Beijing Film Academy was called the "Document Hall" at that time.

The four-story gray building is hidden behind a row of poplar trees in the northwest corner of the campus.

The steps at the entrance are worn smooth and shiny by the years, and a bronze plaque hangs on the door frame with the words "Documentary of Beijing Film Academy" engraved on it, though the characters are somewhat blurred.

When He Ye entered the library, it was already three o'clock in the afternoon.

During his time back, He Ye also didn't have much free time, as he was busy with the script and attending classes.

He is, after all, a student; attending classes is the main task at his age.

But he had been taking Mu Deyuan's classes for three years, and after three days at school, He was so bored he was practically rolling on the floor.

I applied for a solution for Mu Deyuan, and he completed the necessary notes and submitted the required assignments. Now, all that's left is to spend time in the library.

Photography is not like other departments; it really requires comprehension and self-discovery.

Simply memorizing knowledge is not very useful.

This is also why many second- and third-year students basically spend all their time on film sets.

Mu Deyuan once said that technical skills can be learned, but aesthetic sense and comprehension must be cultivated on one's own.

The best place to hone your aesthetic sense is not on a film set, but in a library.

He went up to the third floor as if he knew the way well, and headed towards the bookshelves in the film and television theory section.

This floor has the fewest people and the best lighting. There's a row of long tables by the window, covered with dark green velvet. The lamps are the old-fashioned kind with green glass shades, and the light is so soft it makes you want to sleep.

This feeling is actually correct; it is indeed a good place for He Ye to fall asleep after getting bored with his studies.

However, there seemed to be other people here today. He had just turned the corner of the bookshelf when he saw a figure.

The woman sat with her back to him at a desk, holding a book in her hands, engrossed in reading it.

She was wearing a light gray knitted cardigan over a white undershirt, dark straight-leg pants, and flat shoes.

Her hair was casually tied back, with a few stray strands hanging down beside her ears.

She sat quietly in the afternoon sunlight, as still as a painting.

He Ye paused for a moment.

He recognized the woman.

Yu Feihong.

To be precise, it's 30-year-old Yu Feihong, the "Amazing Fairy".

Before filming "Love Comes Again," Yu Feihong hadn't been tormented to death by that ghost movie, and afterwards, he rarely appeared in public.

At this moment, she still possessed a composure unique to a 30-year-old woman.

This was the first time He Ye had seen her in real life, and he had never observed her at such close range before.

It can only be said that the title "Fairy of the Startling Beauty" is indeed well-deserved.

Her face shape and appearance make her look older when she's young, but she becomes more charming as she gets older.

He also withdrew his impolite gaze, pretended not to recognize her, took a book from the bookshelf behind her, and then walked to the long table by the window and sat down.

He opened the book, but his gaze kept drifting towards the bookshelf.

Yu Feihong was still engrossed in reading, occasionally tracing a line on the page with his finger, as if marking something.

About ten minutes later, she closed the book, stood up, and turned to leave.

As she passed by He Ye, her gaze swept over the book on He Ye's desk, "The Grammar of Film Language".

Just then, He also looked up and met her gaze.

After seeing He Ye's appearance clearly, Yu Feihong's eyes lit up slightly.

"You look like you should be in the acting department, so why aren't you reading acting books? Instead, you're reading books that are usually read by directing and cinematography majors?" After a moment of silence, Yu Feihong asked curiously.

He was taken aback by her first question, then smiled and said, "Senior, you've mistaken me for someone else. I'm from the photography department."

"Photography Department?" Yu Feihong looked He Ye up and down, clearly not believing him.

"The book 'The Grammar of Film Language' is read by first-year directing students in the first semester, while first-year cinematography students will read it in the second semester."

"It's only November, and the freshmen have only been in class for a few months~" Yu Feihong pointed to the book in front of him, "And your notes not only include shots and compositions, but also narratives and staging."

"You actually lied to me? You must be either in the acting or directing department, right?"

He glanced down at his notebook and, sure enough, it was covered with storyboards, lighting diagrams, and some scenes from his film.

This is a misunderstanding.

However, He didn't feel guilty at all.

"You have a good eye, senior." He closed his notebook, stood up, and said, "My name is He Ye. I'm not lying to you, senior. I am indeed from the Photography Department, Class of 01."

"Really a photography major? And your teacher?"

"Mu Deyuan!"

"Oh, it's Teacher Mu~" Only now did she begin to believe it.

She then extended her hand, her tone teasing: "But with your looks, the acting teachers must be quite unhappy that they couldn't accept you, right? I'm Yu Feihong, I'm sure you know me, so there's no need for introductions."

"But you call me senior? I graduated many years ago."

He also grasped her slightly cool fingertips: "Then I'll call you Teacher Yu?"

"No need, I don't teach anymore, just call me by my name." Yu Feihong released his hand and sat down opposite him. "How come you, a photography major, are still doing storyboarding and narrative for a director?"

As she spoke, a slight smile appeared on her face: "What, you want to be a director at such a young age?"

"Don't all cinematographers at the Beijing Film Academy dream of becoming directors?"

Instead of giving a direct answer, He asked a question in return, leaving Yu Feihong unsure how to respond.

Because what He Ye said seemed to be the truth!

The true path to becoming a director at Beijing Film Academy lies in the cinematography department!

Fortunately, He didn't intend to argue with her about this, but instead pointed to the book in her hand: "Besides, isn't your senior also studying directing? You're an actress, a big star, and you're studying directing..."

Suddenly, He seemed to remember something: "Could it be that you, senior, also want to switch careers and become a director?"

"How did you..." Yu Feihong was wondering how the other person knew what he was thinking.

She glanced down at the book in her hand, "The Director's Self-Cultivation," and instantly realized that this was where she had given herself away. She smiled and commented, "Not bad, your observation and analytical skills are quite good. It seems that Teacher Mu's teaching of you was not in vain."

"Senior... are you really going to switch careers and become a director?" Seeing that Yu Feihong did not refute, He Ye continued to ask knowingly.

Yu Feihong was also a master of Tai Chi, and he was unwilling to be outmaneuvered and stumped by a young man.

She still didn't answer directly, but instead raised an eyebrow, mimicking He Ye's earlier tactic, and asked in return, "How did you figure that out? Can't I just browse around because I'm interested?"

He leaned back in his chair, his tone becoming increasingly calm: "Actors won't read 'The Director's Self-Cultivation,' screenwriters won't read it; only beginners who want to become directors will read it."

"And you were taking notes the whole time you were reading..."

Upon hearing this, Yu Feihong's gaze finally turned serious as he looked at him: "You've certainly observed things very carefully."

"I guess that's just a professional habit?" He smiled. "Didn't my senior just say that photography students need to have sharp eyes?"

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